You only need to watch a single episode of Shark Tank to understand how many Americans dream of owning their own business. In fact, according to Global Entrepreneurship and Development Index, the U.S. ranks first out of 138 countries for providing the best environment for the entrepreneurial spirit.

As of 2016, six percent of Americans counted owning their own business as their main job. But sometimes the fantasy of being your own boss loses its sheen. Owning a startup is hard work, and the proprietors of small businesses sometimes decide to step away from their creation.

Some small businesses have a hard time competing with Amazon and big box stores and choose to close for financial reasons. For other small business owners, the stress becomes too much, and they decide that they are ready to have a more predictable income, complete with paid vacations, and health benefits.

Whatever the reason you’ve decided to step away from working for yourself, there are many business owners who find themselves looking for full-time work. But how do you enter the workforce after years of running your own business?

How to Write a Resume After Running Your Own Business

The first thing you need to do is create a resume that shows that you have not lost the skills needed to work in the corporate world. Remember that other people may not get your background right away so it’s important to learn how to write a resume that shows off your skills and experience.

It’s your job to help them to understand how your experience as a small business owner translates into their corporate world. You can do this by highlighting all of the responsibilities you had as a small business owner that relate to the position you are looking for.

For example, if you’re looking for a job in finance, stress all the budgeting, balancing, and reconciling experience you gained in your small business. If you’re looking for a career in marketing, emphasize all of the experience you gained in marketing your business.

The first thing you need to do is create a resume that shows that you have not lost the skills needed to work in the corporate world. Remember that other people may not get your background right away so it’s important to learn how to write a resume that shows off your skills and experience.

Be sure to include quantifiable information. For example, if you managed people, share how many you managed. Include the percentage revenue growth you were able to achieve. List the number of customers you serviced, and the frequency at which you performed certain responsibilities.

If you need help getting started, check out the LiveCareer resume builder or resume templates collection. These tools can help you create a professional resume in minutes and get you started off on the right foot.

How to Write a Cover Letter After Running Your Own Business

People often ask, is the cover letter still necessary? Yes, a cover letter is an important piece of the application process. Your cover letter is your personal narrative. It helps to bridge the gap between your current experience and the job you’re interested in.

It’s not a problem if you repeat some of the points from your resume in your cover letter. There’s no guarantee that the hiring manager will read both your cover letter and your resume.

In the cover letter, explain why you would be a great fit for the new job. But, don’t dwell on potentially negative details, such as financial woes. It’s important to stay positive in the interview process.

Cover letter writing intimidates even the most seasoned jobseekers. If you’ve been your own boss for a while, it might feel overwhelming. However, you should never skip writing a cover letter, even if an application doesn’t require one. Hiring managers often use the content of a cover letter to distinguish between similarly qualified candidates, which means a well-written cover letter can put you out on top.

Think of it this way: research shows that 45 percent of jobseekers skip writing a cover letter altogether, which means that the simple act of writing one puts you ahead of almost half of the competition. That should be motivation not to skip this important step.

Cover letter writing intimidates even the most seasoned jobseekers. If you’ve been your own boss for a while, it might feel overwhelming. However, you should never skip writing a cover letter, even if an application doesn’t require one.

Also, a cover letter gives you the space to explain the valuable transferable skills you learned while running your business. If you need help, check out the LiveCareer cover letter builder or cover letter templates collection for inspiration.

How to Prep for a Job Interview After Running Your Own Business

Once you identify that you ran your own business, you will have to prepare for questions related to why you no longer want to be in business. If you sold your business, then you have less to worry about. If not, then you will have to address the issue of why you are no longer running your company head-on.

To prepare, write a list of bullet points to explain your story. Consider what you would say if you were to be asked, “Tell me about yourself” or “Why are you looking for a new job?”

Also, be ready for questions like, “How will you feel working in a corporate environment again?” Or, “Will you have trouble reporting to a boss again after running your own business?” These are valid questions that deserve consideration.

As much as possible, focus on the positives. Do you want the challenge of working in a new industry? Are you looking to explore new opportunities for growth? If you focus on the positive aspects of your search, most people will accept your explanation with few additional questions.

Practice your answer on friends in advance until you have worked through the kinks and any negative feelings you may have associated with moving on from your business. You want to be as upbeat and confident as possible in an interview.

Additional Jobseeker Resources

About the Author

Angela Copeland is a career coach and founder of her own coaching firm, Copeland Coaching.
Previously, Angela was Vice President of Digital and eCommerce at First Tennessee Bank, and Director of Digital Strategy and Marketing at ServiceMaster. She’s the author of Breaking The Rules & Getting The Job and the host of the Copeland Coaching Podcast. Angela is also a syndicated career columnist, and she recently shared her career story in a TEDx Talk titled “How I broke the rules & found my perfect job.” She holds an M.B.A. from Pepperdine University and a B. S. in Computer & Systems Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

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Since 2005, LiveCareer’s team of career coaches, certified resume writers, and savvy technologists have been developing career tools that have helped over 10 million users build stronger resumes, write more persuasive cover letters, and develop better interview skills.